The Presidency has announced that they held a meeting with leaders from the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) to address the issue of cows wandering through the streets of Abuja, the nation’s capital.
The meeting, which happened on Friday was led by the Sultan of Sokoto Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, and the Chairman of MACBAN, along with the Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Maiha.
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Livestock Development, Idris Abiola-Ajimobi, emphasized the government’s goal under President Bola Tinubu to find solutions to challenges faced by cattle herders in Nigeria.
He stated that the meeting was an opportunity to engage with livestock stakeholders to share the government’s ongoing efforts.
Abiola-Ajimobi explained that to tackle the problem of cows roaming in Abuja, they are working on several initiatives, including improving grazing reserves, establishing ranches, and creating special agricultural processing zones.
The plan also includes providing essential services like feed, water, healthcare, and veterinary clinics to support pastoralists and ensure they have a safe environment to work and live.
The Special Assistant to the Minister of Education, Dr. Balarabe Kakale mentioned that the meeting also focused on the role of education for children in pastoralist communities.
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He noted that the stakeholders agreed to work together with the government’s plans for sustainable grazing and education, highlighting that many pastoralist children are out of school.
National President of MACBAN, Alhaji Baba Othman-Ngelzarma, confirmed that the main goal of the meeting was to address the issue of cows in the city and the high rate of out-of-school children among pastoralist families.
He pointed out that a significant portion of Nigeria’s 20 million out-of-school children come from pastoralist backgrounds.
Othman-Ngelzarma mentioned that the participants were eager to make Abuja a model for resolving these issues and to understand the reasons behind cows entering the city.
A committee will be formed to find a permanent solution to prevent cows from roaming the streets of the capital.
